ATI tries to downplay SLI

[Sideswipe001]

Are motherboards with 2xPCI-E 16x slots really going to be that rare?

Look, I'm certainly no expert on PCI-E, but it would seem to me that other things (besides just video cards) would be designed to run in a PCI-E 16x slot. What about RAID controllers for example? Isn't there a market for all that bandwith in cards BESIDES Video cards? And if we assume that there IS, then why would it be so rare to find a motherboard that has 2 of those slots? I don't mean tommorow- but I do mean whenever PCI-E becomes mainstream.

The other point brought up I wanted to comment on was the "why don't people buy dual-cpu systems rather than a faster processor" question. Personally, I'd be surprised if dual-cpu computers didn't majorly grow in popularity. Having used one for some time now...I can say that people like my brother (who doesn't game anything more intense than Civilization) would rather have a dual 2.6 GHZ machine than a single 3.6 GHz one. Why? Because he mainly multitasks. Burning CDs, audio editing, etc, while he surfs the net or listens to a broadcast online work much more smoothly with 2 CPUS. And we are getting to the days where there is little (if any) noticeable difference between having a 2 Ghz CPU and a 3 GHz CPU for normal, every day, desktop stuff.

SLI might be the end all right now, but it's certainly heading in the right direction. The future is multi-taksing, and I really doubt that nVidia's SLI will disappear. I see it as the beginning of a new direction in computing.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Rollo

This makes no sense. People usually do say if you want a fast gaming rig, go AMD. LOL my A64 3000+ that I paid $250 for last Christmas still outperforms a P4 3.2EE that cost over $900 now at newegg. Yeah, they're saying "Go Intel for gaming! Don't forget to grab your ankles!" :roll:

That's the whole point. XP < P4 < A64 for gaming. You cant just say all AMD processors are better for gaming because that is simply not true. Lets say if Nvidia was faster with SLI, but their 6800GT was slower than X800 whatever series at the same price, i wouldnt recommend getting an AGP Nvidia card, or a PCIe card, unless there was a choice for that person to later upgrade to SLI. Just because Nvidia will have SLI doesnt mean that most users will even have the option to upgrade due to their old motherboard.

A top of the line dual processor system is surely faster than a single processor system but a P4 3.2ghz smokes 2x2.0 ghz P4s. Even if sli is going to be fast, chances are the top end card at the time will still be faster than 2 sli cards for the same price (ie. 6800gt $400 vs. 6600GT x 2 = $200 x 2).

Then you are going to say well lets pair 2 6800Ultra cards for fastest performance?

Moreso, since not a lot of users can afford and will not buy dual processor systems, why would you think that SLI will take off? How many ppl have dual cpu setups at home? Anandtech is a different type of place, and other computer forums, where ppl want the fastest stuff, but 99% of consumers out there couldn't care less if they had 9800Pro, 6800, or 6800Ultra Extreme since they wont even know the difference. Something like 60% of the graphics market is owned by Integrated graphics cards, so when you talk about Nvidia and ATI they are dominant players for sure, but more like in the discrete graphics segment. But how many high-end enthusiast cards are sold? Even if SLI is a breakthrough among enthusiasts, and 90% of those users own sli rigs, 99% of all other computer users wont have that and that is where the money is at.

So on the whole what SIGNIFICANCE DOES SLI bring to the table? The same that a Dodge Viper brings to Chrysler - bragging rights and brand image and nothing else. Because guess what, Mazda 3 will outsell dodge neon, Mazda 6 and honda accord and camry will outsell chrysler sebring, and so on......no one will ever care that dodge viper is a great car if all other affordable chrysler cars suck. So as long as ATI controls the low-end and mainstream market, they will be in the lead. Of course RV410 has to come through or they will be in trouble with their X300/600 series.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001
Are motherboards with 2xPCI-E 16x slots really going to be that rare?

I believe that the Nforce 4 chipset is designed to support a maximum of 32 PCI-E lanes. So a more likely setup will be a 16x + 8x slot setup. But as I doubt even an 8x PCI-E slot can become bandwidth saturated it's rather a moot point.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001
Are motherboards with 2xPCI-E 16x slots really going to be that rare?

I believe that the Nforce 4 chipset is designed to support a maximum of 32 PCI-E lanes. So a more likely setup will be a 16x + 8x slot setup. But as I doubt even an 8x PCI-E slot can become bandwidth saturated it's rather a moot point.

from that logic, one could easily argue the point of pcie for video as the current 8x agp is nowhere near saturated

the biggest advantage of pcie is the bi-directional bus, but that makes little difference with video as that's pretty much a one-way street.

 

[Robor]

I had a Voodoo2 and I never went SLI just because I didn't think the performance gain was worth the price. IMO graphics cards lose their value too quickly to invest that much money in 2 of them.

However, there are those willing to pay $800+ for the best graphics solution. I remember a few weeks ago somone linked an Ebay sale of a guy paying $1125 for a 6800Ultra PE or something. I think he's an idiot but it's his money.

Anyway, ATi downplays it because they don't support it. In their eyes every person looking to do SLI will not be ATI customers so of course they're going to poo-poo it.

 

[fsstrike]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo
http://www.oc-zone.com/modules.php?name=Articles&amp;rop=conteudo&amp;id=65

The truth is that these kind of exotic arrangements are of interest to only a tiny minority of gamers. Almost all of the X800 boards that are sold will go into a standard PC. Putting several chips onto one board, or several boards into one machine makes the system very expensive and most people won?t go there.

Also note that the SLI system from NVIDIA is another example of an unbalanced design. It will draw an amazing amount of power (for most people that will necessitate a new power supply) and will generate a massive amount of heat and noise. As a technology demonstration it is interesting, but as a gaming setup - it?s crazy!

Hmmm. Apparently Huddy doesn't remember V2 sli. It was OBSCENELY expensive for it's time, but EVERYONE got one.

3dfx went out of buisness. If their SLI was such a huge success im sure it would have lasted longer than it did Not that it was voodoo2's fault, but if it was so good wouldnt it of been able to keep 3dfx alive much longer?

Voodoo 2 was by FAR the most successful gaming card of it's era, for almost two years if I remember right. 3dfx went out of business years later, not due to sli.

So, even being the most "successful" gaming card of its era, it was still cancelled? Usually when a product is very popular and successful, companies usually keep it around as long as possible. Obviously 3dfx did not do this, which makes you think "mabye it wasnt such a huge success as everyone thought?" Whether or not it was a success is not the point, the point is, it wasnt able to keep 3dfx alive, so it couldnt of been THAT good.

WTF? The V2 was never cancelled, the market grew out of it and 3dfx had problems producing a competitive chip, in the end Nvidia bought 3dfx.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.

 

[Keysplayr]

If I recall correctly, 3dfx scoffed or downplayed several things as well. 32 bit color graphics for example. 3dfx deemed it unecessary and as a result was late to the party and had to catch up to nvidia. Another would be their AGP support. Said it was overkill and not yet required. This may have been true at that time, but AGP caught on a helluva lot quicker than anyone thought. Much faster than this PCI-E business.
So, to downplay certain things may be "only" a marketing technique. Because in reality ATI cannot stand the fact that nvidia is offering in leaps and bounds more "goodies" than ATI currently is. This, I am sure will change in the next full gen. But, I hope ATI doesn't make the same mistakes that 3dfx did and downplay the most obvious coolest (however impractical) features that nv offers.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo
http://www.oc-zone.com/modules.php?name=Articles&amp;rop=conteudo&amp;id=65

The truth is that these kind of exotic arrangements are of interest to only a tiny minority of gamers. Almost all of the X800 boards that are sold will go into a standard PC. Putting several chips onto one board, or several boards into one machine makes the system very expensive and most people won?t go there.

Also note that the SLI system from NVIDIA is another example of an unbalanced design. It will draw an amazing amount of power (for most people that will necessitate a new power supply) and will generate a massive amount of heat and noise. As a technology demonstration it is interesting, but as a gaming setup - it?s crazy!

Hmmm. Apparently Huddy doesn't remember V2 sli. It was OBSCENELY expensive for it's time, but EVERYONE got one.

3dfx went out of buisness. If their SLI was such a huge success im sure it would have lasted longer than it did Not that it was voodoo2's fault, but if it was so good wouldnt it of been able to keep 3dfx alive much longer?

Voodoo 2 was by FAR the most successful gaming card of it's era, for almost two years if I remember right. 3dfx went out of business years later, not due to sli.

So, even being the most "successful" gaming card of its era, it was still cancelled? Usually when a product is very popular and successful, companies usually keep it around as long as possible. Obviously 3dfx did not do this, which makes you think "mabye it wasnt such a huge success as everyone thought?" Whether or not it was a success is not the point, the point is, it wasnt able to keep 3dfx alive, so it couldnt of been THAT good.

WTF? The V2 was never cancelled, the market grew out of it and 3dfx had problems producing a competitive chip, in the end Nvidia bought 3dfx.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.

No, it was not why it didn't continue to cause high sales and the further life of the company, another company took over where 3dfx left off, Nvidia had better products at a lower price, and that was it.

SLI is still a stupid solution though, i'll agree on that until they use a dual GPU core, but that isn't SLI, just like ANY high performance solution never has been and never will be SLI.

For workstations, i hear 3dlabs has something special around the corner.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo
http://www.oc-zone.com/modules.php?name=Articles&amp;rop=conteudo&amp;id=65

The truth is that these kind of exotic arrangements are of interest to only a tiny minority of gamers. Almost all of the X800 boards that are sold will go into a standard PC. Putting several chips onto one board, or several boards into one machine makes the system very expensive and most people won?t go there.

Also note that the SLI system from NVIDIA is another example of an unbalanced design. It will draw an amazing amount of power (for most people that will necessitate a new power supply) and will generate a massive amount of heat and noise. As a technology demonstration it is interesting, but as a gaming setup - it?s crazy!

Hmmm. Apparently Huddy doesn't remember V2 sli. It was OBSCENELY expensive for it's time, but EVERYONE got one.

3dfx went out of buisness. If their SLI was such a huge success im sure it would have lasted longer than it did Not that it was voodoo2's fault, but if it was so good wouldnt it of been able to keep 3dfx alive much longer?

Voodoo 2 was by FAR the most successful gaming card of it's era, for almost two years if I remember right. 3dfx went out of business years later, not due to sli.

So, even being the most "successful" gaming card of its era, it was still cancelled? Usually when a product is very popular and successful, companies usually keep it around as long as possible. Obviously 3dfx did not do this, which makes you think "mabye it wasnt such a huge success as everyone thought?" Whether or not it was a success is not the point, the point is, it wasnt able to keep 3dfx alive, so it couldnt of been THAT good.

WTF? The V2 was never cancelled, the market grew out of it and 3dfx had problems producing a competitive chip, in the end Nvidia bought 3dfx.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.

Oh, and the next generation, V3 was a huge success.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: fsstrike

Originally posted by: Rollo
http://www.oc-zone.com/modules.php?name=Articles&amp;rop=conteudo&amp;id=65

The truth is that these kind of exotic arrangements are of interest to only a tiny minority of gamers. Almost all of the X800 boards that are sold will go into a standard PC. Putting several chips onto one board, or several boards into one machine makes the system very expensive and most people won?t go there.

Also note that the SLI system from NVIDIA is another example of an unbalanced design. It will draw an amazing amount of power (for most people that will necessitate a new power supply) and will generate a massive amount of heat and noise. As a technology demonstration it is interesting, but as a gaming setup - it?s crazy!

Hmmm. Apparently Huddy doesn't remember V2 sli. It was OBSCENELY expensive for it's time, but EVERYONE got one.

3dfx went out of buisness. If their SLI was such a huge success im sure it would have lasted longer than it did Not that it was voodoo2's fault, but if it was so good wouldnt it of been able to keep 3dfx alive much longer?

Voodoo 2 was by FAR the most successful gaming card of it's era, for almost two years if I remember right. 3dfx went out of business years later, not due to sli.

So, even being the most "successful" gaming card of its era, it was still cancelled? Usually when a product is very popular and successful, companies usually keep it around as long as possible. Obviously 3dfx did not do this, which makes you think "mabye it wasnt such a huge success as everyone thought?" Whether or not it was a success is not the point, the point is, it wasnt able to keep 3dfx alive, so it couldnt of been THAT good.

WTF? The V2 was never cancelled, the market grew out of it and 3dfx had problems producing a competitive chip, in the end Nvidia bought 3dfx.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.

It was great, for awhile. Once 3Dfx was able to acheive better performance in a single chip configuration they dropped SLI like a bad habit. It pushed gaming to new heights though.

 

[Pete]

Given your increasingly partisan stance as of late, I'd say it won't do anything for you until ATi is forced to follow suit.
Granted, I'm often struck by how much it seems I'm defending ATi when I hit reply, but I think that's a response to the increasingly partisan threads going the other way. I don't think I've bashed nVidia's GF 6 series at all. I have called into question the unfettered cheerleading of SM3, the media processor, and now SLI. I'm not dismissing them as much as I'm trying to keep things in perspective, though. So I think that statement is a little uncalled for. If ATi offered SLI with the same caveats as nV (and why shouldn't it, as their cards are so comparable overall), I'd still be enthused about the ability to double the top framerates, but skeptical of it as a cheaper or better upgrade solution than just buying a single fast card from the start. Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture, but I'm not doubting SLI because it's an nVidia invention.

But I don't appreciate the euphemism for fanboy just because I'm not believing all of nVidia's hype. I've seen too much promised and not delivered since just the 9700P to believe everything either ATi or nV have to offer to us devoted gamers. SLI sounds cool, but forgive me for not falling prostrate at the temple of nVidia's technical wizardry while bemoaning ATi's marketing-driven short-sightedness. They're still competitive at the same, sane price points, which is still great for gamers of all stripes. It's cool that nV has basically created a new price and performance category at $800+(+), but I don't think that means that much to the overall 3D market. We all want tomorrow's performance today, but the vast majority have to settle for what we can afford now, and I don't think SLI changes things much from that perspective.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.
SLI was continued, just not in the form of two discrete cards. The Voodoo5 5500 was basically two Voodoo4's SLIed on one card. (In contrast, nV tended to move things onto one chip, and that seems to have served them very well.)

If I recall correctly, 3dfx scoffed or downplayed several things as well.
The real problem was that they just weren't as fast as nV, IIRC. In the end, speed matters most, because it's the only factor in longevity, or bang/buck. ATi, though it's behind in features (albeit not to the same degree 3dfx was to nV), is at least very competitive in terms of speed and IQ. I agree that they're coasting, and that can't go on forever. Hopefully Xbox 2 won't knock them out of their PC development schedule as much as Xbox 1 did with nVidia.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: klah
Did anyone watch the NV press conference from QuakeCon? They said they were working on future SLI solutions using 3-4 cards in a single system.

I haven't watched it (yet), but I did make a comment in a different thread (I think, may have been this thread) about using more than 2 cards.
They probably didn't call it scaleable link interface because it can only work with 2 cards.
And the rendering power of multiple cards in a render farm would do wonders, with the parallel nature of graphics, and if you could combine the RAM without having to duplicate (or duplicate too much), then you would have a massively expandable system for graphics rendering.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Pete
Given your increasingly partisan stance as of late, I'd say it won't do anything for you until ATi is forced to follow suit.
Granted, I'm often struck by how much it seems I'm defending ATi when I hit reply, but I think that's a response to the increasingly partisan threads going the other way. I don't think I've bashed nVidia's GF 6 series at all. I have called into question the unfettered cheerleading of SM3, the media processor, and now SLI. I'm not dismissing them as much as I'm trying to keep things in perspective, though. So I think that statement is a little uncalled for. If ATi offered SLI with the same caveats as nV (and why shouldn't it, as their cards are so comparable overall), I'd still be enthused about the ability to double the top framerates, but skeptical of it as a cheaper or better upgrade solution than just buying a single fast card from the start. Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture, but I'm not doubting SLI because it's an nVidia invention.

But I don't appreciate the euphemism for fanboy just because I'm not believing all of nVidia's hype. I've seen too much promised and not delivered since just the 9700P to believe everything either ATi or nV have to offer to us devoted gamers. SLI sounds cool, but forgive me for not falling prostrate at the temple of nVidia's technical wizardry while bemoaning ATi's marketing-driven short-sightedness. They're still competitive at the same, sane price points, which is still great for gamers of all stripes. It's cool that nV has basically created a new price and performance category at $800+(+), but I don't think that means that much to the overall 3D market. We all want tomorrow's performance today, but the vast majority have to settle for what we can afford now, and I don't think SLI changes things much from that perspective.

Let me rephrase, v2 wasnt cancelled, but SLI never continued. If it was really that great, it would of been continued, but it wasnt.
SLI was continued, just not in the form of two discrete cards. The Voodoo5 5500 was basically two Voodoo4's SLIed on one card. (In contrast, nV tended to move things onto one chip, and that seems to have served them very well.)

If I recall correctly, 3dfx scoffed or downplayed several things as well.
The real problem was that they just weren't as fast as nV, IIRC. In the end, speed matters most, because it's the only factor in longevity, or bang/buck. ATi, though it's behind in features (albeit not to the same degree 3dfx was to nV), is at least very competitive in terms of speed and IQ. I agree that they're coasting, and that can't go on forever. Hopefully Xbox 2 won't knock them out of their PC development schedule as much as Xbox 1 did with nVidia.

The nest generation wasn't the 4400's or even the 5500's it was the Vodoo 3000's.

You have no idea about what you are taling about.

Besides, SLI on one card is SGPU tech, not at all comparable to SLI tech, you need to get a grip on the tech before arguing these things.

Read the thread, most of it has already been discussed.

 

[Acanthus]

Voodoo 3 2000 PCI
Voodoo 3 3000 PCI
Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
Voodoo 3 3500 TV
Voodoo 5 series
Voodoo 4 series
3dfxs doom shortly after.

 

[nRollo]

Pete:

Well, ensuring you have a dual-PEG MB and a sufficiently studly PSU isn't no effort. It's a lot more effort compared to a Voodoo 2, but I guess those carefree days of not having to find spare molexes are long gone. 24 pipes for <$600 sounds great, but only 128MB seems like a huge limiter. Not show-stopping, but it seems important. I haven't entirely thought it through yet, though. Again, this is looking at it from the perspective of those who buy a new $200 card every year or two, not those who buy a new $400 card every year.

People that have small psus these days don't get many dates and need Enzyte.....errr, I mean, are living on borrowed time. Buying a 450w+ psu isn't a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when". The people SLI will appeal to aren't the ones thinking about the cost of a psu. If you've got $600-$1000 to spend on video cards, you probably already have a good psu or plan on buying one.

As far as the 128MB on a NU SLI setup being a limiter goes, I wonder if it will be? You would think rendering half the scene would require half the memory intuitively?

Your logic isn't entirely clear to me there, but I'll grant you that touting SM2.0 and then downplaying SM3.0 is a bit double-faced. But the leap from SM1.x to SM2.0 still seems more important than that from SM2.0 to SM3.0, IMO.

My point is that for a year and a half ATI said PS2 was the defining factor in buying a video card, and there were no PS2 games out for most of that time. (except Wallet Raider) Now they say "Who needs PS3? There are hardly any games!" Can't have both ways Mr. Huddy. It remains to be seen what the impact of SM3 will be, hopefully the impending LOTR game will give us a better idea.

I don't think we're looking at comparable situations, so I'd prefer to spend that $20 on that swanky Sandisk 8-in-1 reader, if you don't mind.

That they are not comparable is my point exactly. Here we are two years after the launch of the "Gotta have PS2" 9700P. How many PS2 games can I go to the store and buy?
Wallet Raider/Far Cry/Colin MCRae/TRON (I think- but LOL at it anyway) Four. Two of which are worthless. So the fruits of the "gotta have PS2" 9700Pro boasting by ATI are one shooter and one race game two years later, and the 9700P isn't what you'd call the "card to have" for them, is it?

At least with PS3, Far Cry has shown us some benefit, and actually runs well on the PS3 cards? Like I said, the next year will tell us a lot more about the necessity/utility of PS3, and whether TWIMTBP developers will retro code to give ATI users the same performance.

To each his own, but I don't think offering the option for full trilinear makes up for nV's behavior last year. Then again, it's quite probable ATi would have done with same with equally-underperforming hardware. I just don't see what ATi has done wrong and nV right to swing you back into the nV camp.

1. ATI lied to me and everyone else about their trilinear, while intentionally trying to deceive the press to make their parts look better.
2. When caught, they re-defined trilinear so they could say "We didn't lie". (Must have been watching Clinton's impeachment when he explained how he didn't have sex with Monica)
3. Brought out the same damn part three calendar years in a row. I won't buy it next year either, if they try to trot it out yet again.
4. Lost edge on features.
5. Didn't offer answer to SLI
6. Brought nothing to the table for my favorite game in the last few years, Doom3. Will likely lag at it's licenses, which I will buy.

Enough?

 

[nRollo]

BTW-

Anand says lots of people bought SLI

The price is quite high at $599 and is clearly targeted at the hardcore gamer. We know some people will buy it because quite a few people paid about $600 for a Voodoo2 SLI setup when it was released.

So much for Mr. Huddy's assertion SLI only appeals to three rich guys in the Hamptons....
:roll:

 

[fwtong]

The day I have to buy 2 or more video cards to play games is the day that I stop playing games. That's 2 or more video cards in a combination of SLI, or having an Nvidia card to play Nvidia optimized games and an ATI card to play ATI optimized games. Since playing games is a hobby, not a lifestyle for me, I just can buy into SLI. I just can't justify buying 2 or more video cards for one computer no matter what the situation is.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: fwtong
The day I have to buy 2 or more video cards to play games is the day that I stop playing games. That's 2 or more video cards in a combination of SLI, or having an Nvidia card to play Nvidia optimized games and an ATI card to play ATI optimized games. Since playing games is a hobby, not a lifestyle for me, I just can buy into SLI. I just can't justify buying 2 or more video cards for one computer no matter what the situation is.

you are just getting old

:roll:



and - by your own words - you may be giving up gaming sooner - rather than later.

 

[Insomniak]

You do realize, that with an average of 4 smilies per post and well over 15,000 posts, you're responsible for the existince of 61,000+ smilies?



That's a lot of offspring, daddy.

 

[Cawchy87]

Right now, i would say that ATI is partially right. Not many people have that much money to throw around, and one of the high end cards will do great in any game. The possible advances that the Nvidia SLI proposes are very interesting and not "Crazy" as ati describes them. Wouldn't it be great if insted of having to go out and buy the top of the line vid card to play a new game you could just get a decent upgrade and just throw it in there ALONG with your other vid card!

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Rollo
BTW-

Anand says lots of people bought SLI

The price is quite high at $599 and is clearly targeted at the hardcore gamer. We know some people will buy it because quite a few people paid about $600 for a Voodoo2 SLI setup when it was released.

So much for Mr. Huddy's assertion SLI only appeals to three rich guys in the Hamptons....
:roll:

heh.. and where's at's sourc of marketing data?

'alot' doesn't say anything. 100 people is 'alot', so is 1000.... but pale when talking about quarter million computers (not accurate #'s, just trying to make a point).

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
Voodoo 3 2000 PCI
Voodoo 3 3000 PCI
Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
Voodoo 3 3500 TV
Voodoo 5 series
Voodoo 4 series
3dfxs doom shortly after.

Well, there you see what i know, however you forgot the banshee, which was AGP or PCI.

And Nvidia bought 3dfx after that.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: fwtong
The day I have to buy 2 or more video cards to play games is the day that I stop playing games. That's 2 or more video cards in a combination of SLI, or having an Nvidia card to play Nvidia optimized games and an ATI card to play ATI optimized games. Since playing games is a hobby, not a lifestyle for me, I just can buy into SLI. I just can't justify buying 2 or more video cards for one computer no matter what the situation is.

you are just getting old

:roll:



and - by your own words - you may be giving up gaming sooner - rather than later.

You stopped discussing the points now, i have another question for you as you were pushing so hard for the workstation arena.

Now, the workstation arena has no use for extra features in DX but will use a lot of newer OGL features which these cards simply do not have, perhaps in the Quadro versions they will but since 3dlabs is so far ahead atm what makes you think that an SLI solution is viable (if it is even possible on quadro setups)?

Then we are coming down to the drivers, new drivers for a new mb with two older cards, does that sond like a viable workstation solution to you?

Eh, no, 3dlabs will chew up nvidia and spit them out if they got nothing else to present.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Now, the workstation arena has no use for extra features in DX but will use a lot of newer OGL features which these cards simply do not have, perhaps in the Quadro versions they will but since 3dlabs is so far ahead atm what makes you think that an SLI solution is viable (if it is even possible on quadro setups)?

The only race 3DLabs is leading nV in right now is the race to the grave. nV exposes additional functionality of their parts(which the FX5200 still bests 3DL's latest and greatest in certain features) through their own extensions. nV has also been beating them up pretty badly in the speed department also(and to kick some more dirt in their face, nV is cheaper).

Then we are coming down to the drivers, new drivers for a new mb with two older cards, does that sond like a viable workstation solution to you?

If they are nVidia's drivers? Absolutely. Check out their Quadro line some time and see how "bad" their drivers are.

Pete-

I have called into question the unfettered cheerleading of SM3

If you had been doing the same thing during the cheerleading(particularly in the early days) of SM2 I wouldn't see any problem with it, but it is coming off as one sided when you choose to defend/apologize for ATi and tend not to do the same with nV. I certainly don't think you are anywhere near the kind of frothing at the mouth f@nboy that Hellbinder or Wavey is, but you don't exactly come across as even handed particularly as of late. I don't think SM3 is going to be all that big of a deal myself, if sites start making it out to be a huge issue then I think I'd start to speak up about it- right now it is very safe to say it will take off much faster then SM2 did for certain(not that that is saying much at all).

I'm not dismissing them as much as I'm trying to keep things in perspective, though.

The question is what perspective are you trying to keep?

But I don't appreciate the euphemism for fanboy just because I'm not believing all of nVidia's hype.

Fvck nVidia and their hype. This type of 'SLI' offers flexibility and significantly more power- how are either of those things remotely close to bad? I don't care if Matrox figures out a way to exploit it the best and show what it's capable of- this has way more to do with what PCI-E offers us then it does about any nV PR BS.

 

[BFG10K]

How many PS2 games can I go to the store and buy?

How many SM 3.0 games can I go to the store and buy? One and the only way to get it to work under SM 3.0 is to download a patch that was recalled.

Wallet Raider/Far Cry/Colin MCRae/TRON (I think- but LOL at it anyway) Four. Two of which are worthless

Still spouting off this nonsense are you Rollo? How about doing some research for a change instead of repeating the same rubbish?

Besides, four is still greater than one. Or rather half.